Setting Aside Thus Saith The Lord

Walk by faith and be loyal and true to Thus saith the Lord. 

The Word of God is:

• true and alone endures forever

• not uncertain or powerless

• the only fixed, changeless thing that the world knows

• the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8.

Ever since the fall of humankind, Christ had been the Reveller of truth to the world.

We are to receive God's Word as supreme authority. 

Furthermore, we are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment.

Moreover we should teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere.

Nevertheless, when its claims conflict with the claims of God - We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

God's word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A Thus saith the Lord is not to be set aside for a "Thus said the church" or a "Thus said the state."

We are not required to defy authorities. 

Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, lest we place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order.

We are to go forward in Christ's name, advocating the truth as it is in Jesus. If we are forbidden by people to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles:

Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:19, 20.

Lessons of faith in a plain Thus saith the Lord

Faith overcomes evil propensities. Those who go into the battlefield will find that they must put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:11.

The shield of faith will be your defense and will enable you to be more than conquerors. 

Nothing else will avail but this - faith in the Lord of hosts and obedience to His orders.

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16.

It is a mistake to think that we must feel ourselves accepted of God before we can appropriate the promises of His word. 

Faith must not rely upon feeling, but upon the promises of God.

Faith takes hold of the divine word. Feeling often excludes faith in a Thus saith the Lord.

If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. Matthew 19:17.

In other words - live out God's Law as the apple of thine eye. Proverbs 7:2.  

God's commandments obeyed are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:22.

God bids us walk by faith in a Thus saith the Lord and stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.

Often the followers of Christ are brought where they cannot serve God and carry forward their worldly enterprises. 

Perhaps it appears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off their means of support.

Satan would make them believe that they must sacrifice their conscientious convictions. 

But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely is the Word of God.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

By this promise the children of God will live

When we learn the power of His word, we shall not follow the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. 

Our only questions will be, What is God's command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other.

In the last great conflict of the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. 

Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers, they will be forbidden to buy or sell.

It will finally be decreed that they shall be put to death. See Revelation 13:11-17.

The obedient will live by the promise:

He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Isaiah 33:16.

When the earth will be wasted with famine, they shall be fed.

They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. Psalm 37:19.

To that time of distress the prophet Habakkuk looked forward, and his words express the faith of the church:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; 

the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; 

the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17, 18.

Human judgment must be brought into perfect accord with a Thus saith the Lord.

The Word of Jehovah will stand forever

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. The light shineth in darkness; And the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; 

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:10-13.

No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:18.

Challenge any new doctrine to a plain Thus saith the Lord in its support.

This word is the directory by which mankind must learn the way to eternal life. 

Therefore the person should seek to know the revealed will of God because it concerns his or her present and eternal welfare.

Thus saith the Lord by the holy apostle

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Where is the wise, the scribe, the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; 

But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 

That no flesh should glory in his presence.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 

That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.

The need of Divine Spirit

When there is little attention given to Thus Saith The Lord:

• divine counsels are not heeded

• admonitions are in vain

• grace and heavenly wisdom are not sought that past sins may be avoided and character cleansed from corruption.

David prayed: Make me to understand the way of thy precepts; so shall I talk of thy wonderful works...

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalms 119:27, 18.

While we are commissioned to share the word, we can not impart the power that will quicken the soul and cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.

Only through the Holy Spirit will the word be living and powerful to renew the soul unto eternal life.

We possess nothing which would give success to our labour.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: 

for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5.

It is the miracle-working power of God which gives efficiency to His own word.

In Christ's day

Though the Jews had the Scriptures which testified of Christ, they were not able to discern Christ in the Scriptures.

In Christ's day the religious leaders presented human ideas before the people. Thus the teaching of Christ was in every way opposed to their theories and practice.

For instance, His sermon on the mount contradicted the doctrines of the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees.

They presented to the people endless maxims and traditions as proceeding from God, when they had no Thus saith the Lord for their authority.

Though they professed to know and to worship the true and living God, they wholly misrepresented Him. 

Thus He was looked upon as a stern judge, incapable of compassion, mercy, and love.

For that reason Christ swept away the misrepresentations of Satan, that the confidence of humankind in the love of God might be restored.

He taught humans to address the Supreme Ruler of the universe by the new name Our Father. Thus the character of God, as represented by His Son, was as an original subject, a new gift to the world.

Christ leads us to the throne of God by a new and living way, to present Him to us in His paternal love.

At the end of time

Although we have the Old and the New Testament, people wrest the Scriptures to evade their truths. They also teach maxims and traditions of people for the commandments of God.

In our day, as of old, the vital truths of God's Word are set aside for human theories and speculations. Many professed gospel believers do not accept the whole Bible as the inspired Word.

Thus they reject one portion or questions another. They set up their judgment as superior to the Word. The Scripture which they do teach rests upon their own authority.

Its divine authenticity is destroyed and the people become confused and know not what to believe. There are many beliefs that the mind has no right to entertain.

The Word of God is made to appear mysterious and obscure in order to excuse transgression of His law. 

Christ rebuked these practices in His day. He taught that the word of God was to be understood by all.

He pointed to the Scriptures as of unquestionable authority, and we should do the same. 

The Bible is to be presented as the word of the infinite God, as the end of all controversy and the foundation of all faith.

Preach the word. 2 Timothy 4:2.

Sow beside all waters. Isaiah 32:20.

He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. Jeremiah 23:28.

Every word of God is pure. Proverbs 30:5.

Add thou not unto His words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Proverbs 30:6.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16.

Preparing a people to stand

You should declare with the apostle Peter:

We have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16.

Words of power have been sent by God to His people, bringing them out from the world into the clear light of present truth.

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16.

O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18.

Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid. 1 Corinthians 3:11.

God's servants have proclaimed the message with lips touched by holy fire.

In the same manner the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. 

As the time comes for it to be given, many will be going forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God's Spirit gives them.

The world will hear that Babylon is the church fallen because of her errors and sins, and rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven.

Thousands upon thousands will listen and inquire their ministers: Are these things so? They will get answers meant to soothe their fears and quiet the awakened conscience.

Many will not be satisfied with the mere authority of people and demand a plain Thus saith the Lord.

The popular ministry, like the Pharisees of old, filled with anger as their authority is questioned, will:

• denounce the message as of Satan

• stir up the sin-loving multitudes to persecute those who proclaim it.

Conclusion

We are to go forward in Christ's name advocating the truths committed to us. If we are forbidden by people to do this work, then we may say, as did the apostles:

Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:19, 20.

Now as in the time of Christ deception and hypocrisy are practising. 

People build themselves up in their own self-righteousness and mislead others by presenting before them a false standard.

What they show as true piety is a false condition, braking the principles of the Divine Law.

While claiming to be the people of God, they transgress His Word. Thus they substitute a Thus saith the Lord with their own requirements.

Infinite, eternal truth, and the revelation of God is explained in the light of human interpretations, when only the Holy Spirit's power can unfold spiritual things.

References:

1. RH, Sept 1894; BE Oct 1892; AA 68; BE, May 1894; ST, Dec 1908; DA 121, 331; SpTB17; COL 39-41; GC88 606 - The Ellen G. White Estate

2. The Bible, King James Version (KJV

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